Volume 79, Number 16 | September 23 - 29, 2009
West and East Village, Chelsea, Soho, Noho, Little Italy, Chinatown and Lower East Side, Since 1933

Best bets for Fall dance

Events feed the soul, worth the bread

By Brian McCormick

Dance is like bread, and such indispensable staples of humanity are not dispensed with when times are tough. It is as accessible as ever to people due to the art’s timeless disregard for money. The fight for all dancers to be paid a living wage continues, but our strength has always been that we adapt and we survive; no economic or political crisis has halted our movement — or displaced the eternal engine of imagination that proliferates here in New York. Au contraire, eras such as today’s only make local artists that much stronger and more creative.

Experience some of it for yourself this fall. Here are a few suggestions, for starters.

SEPTEMBER

Groovaloo
Joyce Theater
175 Eighth Ave. at 19th St.
Sep. 17-19, 24–27 at 8 p.m.
Sep. 19, 20, 26, 27 at 2 p.m.
Sep. 20, 22, 23, 27 at 7:30 p.m.
$10-$59; joyce.org or 212-242-0800

Based on true-to-life experiences of the performers, GROOVALOO provides a journey through the diverse world of hip-hop dance. Driven by physical displays, a vibrant musical score, and spoken-word poetry, the show chronicles the struggles and triumphs of the 14-member cast.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ &
THE POWERFUL PEOPLE
“Last Meadow”
Dance Theater Workshop
219 W. 19th St.
Sep. 17-19 at 7:30 p.m.
$15; dtw.org or 212-924-0077

“Last Meadow” is a dream-like visit into an America in a state of collapse. Inspired by James Dean’s films, the piece exploits the image of Dean as a symbol of the ways we project unrealistic expectations onto national identity. Gutierrez performs with Michelle Boulé and Tarek Halaby.

KARINNE KEITHLEY
“Montgomery Park, or, Opulence”
HERE Arts Center
145 Sixth Ave. at Dominick St.
Sep. 18-20 at 7 p.m.; Sep. 19, 20 at 2 p.m.
$15; here.org at 212-352-3101

Begun in response to William James’ “The Varieties of Religious Experience,” “Montgomery Park, or, Opulence,” asks where the boundaries lie between different kinds of conscious beings. Created and performed in collaboration with Katy Pyle and David Brooks.

Fall For Dance Festival
New York City Center
W. 55th St. btw. Sixth & Seventh Aves.
Sep. 22-26, 30; Oct. 1-3 at 8.p.m.
Sep. 27 at 3 p.m.
$10; nycitycenter.org or 212-581-1212

New York City Center’s acclaimed Fall for Dance Festival will feature 20 companies in ten nights of dance that pay tribute to the 100th anniversary of the Ballets Russes. Diaghilev would be pleased.

Raimund Hoghe
“Boléro Variations”
Dance Theater Workshop
219 W. 19th St.
Sep. 23–25 at 7:30 p.m.
$15; dtw.org or 212-924-0077

“L’Après-midi”
Danspace Project at St. Mark’s Church
Tenth St. at Second Ave.
Sep. 26 at 4 p.m.
$18; danspaceproject.org or 866-811-4111

Created in Paris in 2007, “Boléro Variations” features the music of Ravel’s “Boléro,” folksongs, and the soundtrack from the TV broadcast of an ice-dancing performance at the 1984 Olympics in Sarajevo. “L’Après-midi,” inspired by Nijinski’s legendary “L’Après-midi d’un faune,” features the young dancer Emmanuel Eggermont. Both performances are being co-presented with the French Institute / Alliance Française as part of “Crossing the Line.”

OCTOBER

AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE
Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center
Broadway at 65th St.
Oct. 7 at 6:30 p.m.; Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 9-10 at 2 & 8 p.m.
$20-$135; abt.org or 212-721-6500

This fall, American Ballet Theatre brings bold premieres center stage from three of today’s visionary choreographers — Benjamin Millepied, Aszure Barton, and ABT’s artist-in-residence, Alexei Ratmansky. These performances will also feature repertory encores of Clark Tippet’s “Some Assembly Required” and Jerome Robbins’ “Other Dances.”

Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet
“Orbo Novo”
Joyce Theater
175 Eighth Ave. at 19th St.
Oct. 20-25, various times
$10-$29; joyce.org or 212-242-0800

“Orbo Novo” — the company’s latest commission — features Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, one of Europe’s most successful and inventive choreographers, plus an original score for string quartet and piano by Szymon Brzóska performed live by the Mosaic String Quartet with pianist Aaron Wunsch.

MARGARET JENKINS DANCE COMPANY
“Other Suns (A Trilogy)”
Peak Performances
@ Montclair State University
Alexander Kasser Theater, 1 Normal Ave.
Montclair, New Jersey
Oct. 15-18 at 8 p.m.
$15, peakperfs.org 973-655-5112

Marking the first collaboration between an American and a Chinese modern dance company, “Other Suns (A Trilogy)” explores symmetry in a world rapidly losing its sense of balance. Jenkins and the Guangdong Modern Dance Company’s deputy director, Liu Qi, direct the choreography. The original score by American composer Paul Dresher and additional music by Chinese composer Bun-Ching Lam will be played live by the Paul Dresher Ensemble.


VANESSA JUSTICE DANCE
“Flatland”
Joyce SoHo
155 Mercer St.,
btwn. Houston & Prince Sts.
Oct. 15–17 at 8 p.m.; Oct. 18 at 3 p.m.
$18; joyce.org or 212-242-0800

NYC-based choreographer Vanessa Justice presents her evening-length world premiere “Flatland,” featuring sound from David Lynch’s 1977 movie “Eraserhead” and an original composition by Nicholas Patterson.


NOVEMBER

TERE O’CONNOR DANCE
Dance Theater Workshop
219 W. 19th St.
Nov 10-14 at 7:30 p.m.; Nov. 13 at 10 p.m.
$15; dtw.org at 212-924-0077

In his new work, Tere O’Connor embraces the tension between fixed states and constant change as a fundamental ingredient in choreographic thought. The work features an original score by longtime collaborator James Baker, lighting design by Michael O’Connor, and performers Hilary Clark, Daniel Clifton, Erin Gerken, Heather Olson, and Matthew Rogers.